Venezuela earthquakes rattle MLB stars on Giants, Braves, Dodgers, Brewers

The website Baseball Reference lists 86 active players who were born in Venezuela. The country that won the 2026 World Baseball Classic is famous for exporting its native sons to Major League Baseball.

On the night of June 24, Venezuela was thrust into global headlines for a far different reason. A pair of massive earthquakes one minute apart struck nearly 100 miles west of the capital city of Carácas, causing destruction across Venezuelan cities.

The tremors disrupted professional baseball games in the South American country, and caused consternation among the Venezuelan natives in MLB.

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One, San Francisco Giants rookie Victor Bericoto, hit a home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to defeat the A’s 2-1 at Oracle Park.

Yet after the game, his thoughts were with his friends and family back home, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle.

Another Venezuela native, Atlanta pitcher Martín Pérez, posted an Instagram story in Spanish that read: “What occurred in Venezuela is a catastrophe without precedent. My heart and prayers with everyone who was affected. It’s up to us to rebuild, contribute, and inform how we can help to move forward. Much strength.”

Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Miguel Rojas posted a single photo showing a scene of urban destruction in Venezuela shot by AP photographer Mariana Cubillos to his Instagram account.

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Venezuelan third baseman Maikel Garcia of the Kansas City Royals wrote on Twitter/X that he spent three hours trying to contact his daughter’s mom without receiving a response.

In a follow-up post later in the evening, Garcia said she and their daughter made contact with him, and thanked his followers for their prayers.

Giants second baseman Luis Arraez wrote on his Instagram story, “God protect them,” along with a photo of a building reduced to rubble in Venezuela.

“Prayers for Venezuela,” read another Instagram post by Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio, superimposed over frightening clips from his homeland.

The Miami Marlins’ Javier Sanoja posted a request in Spanish to his Instagram account — “tag me to spread the word” — and his followers obliged. By the time Wednesday turned to Thursday, he had reposted dozens of pictures and videos to his account.